Tunnel-block and tunnel construction.



LP entei '9, 1918.

2 SHETS-SHEET 3.

G. HASH N 63.

TUNNEL BLOCK AND TUNNEL CONSTRUCTION.

FILED OCT-18.1915.

APPLICATION mm W C. G. HASTINGS.

TUNNEL BLOCK AND TUNNEL CONSTRUCTION.

APPLICATION FILED OCT-12% 19I5. 1 gm mm D Pan-tame? Apr. 9, 1918.

2 SHEETSSHEET 2.

ml Y m nn snares CORNELIUS G. HASTINGS, OF WEST HOBQKEN, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR HAfiTHl'G TUNNEL SYSTEM COMPANY, A CORPOMTKUN 013 NEW YQBK.

TUNNEL-FEDEX AND TUNNEL CONSTRUC'EKON.

Specification of Letters ieatent.

Patented Apr. .9, 11918..

Application filed October 18, 1915. fierial Ho. 56.517.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it knownthat I, CORNELIUS G. HAST- mos, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the city of West Hoboken, in the county of Hudson and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in a Tunnel-Block and Tunnel Construction; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description. of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the numerals of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to an improved type of built-up tunnel construction adapted to withstand internal pressure as for instance in cases where the bore is used as a main for the transfer of fluid therethrough. This type of tunnel construction wherein a block embodying the principles of my invention is used, is that used in connection with the tunneling shield disclosed in my co-pending applications for patent for tunnel constructions, filed July 2nd, 1913, Serial No. 776,898, and tunneling shields, filed November 19th, 1914, Serial No. 872,921.

It is an object therefore of this invention to construct a reinforced concrete or other composition block provided with suitable reinforcing means and constructed to cooperate with building forms used in assembling the blocks and with mechanisms to hold the blocks in assembled relation to withstand internal pressure.

It is also an object of this invention to construct a reinforced concrete block provided with bars forming the outer edgesv thereof co-acting with one another when said blocks are arranged in assembled relation to form channels to receive restraining tension rings or tie rods thereabout to withstand pressure from the interior of the structure formed by said blocks.

It is also an object of this invention to provide a block for use in tunnel construction constructed to co-act with restraining means to retain the same in place during the assembly of a number of such blocks to permit withdrawal of said retaining means from engagement therewith and to receive engaged around the exterior thereof retaining bands or rings to hold said blocks closely assembled with one another to resist bursting stresses on. the interior of the structure.

it is furthermore an important object of this invention to construct an improved type of reinforced concrete block, the exterior edges of which are provided with Z-bars whereby the adjacent bars of adjacent rows of blocks form recesses in which reinforcing or retaining bands to maintain said blocks in position are placed to resist internal stresses from within the structure. It is finally an object of this invention to construct an improved type of tunnel block exceedingly strong and permitting the tunnel to be rapidly built up to the proper shape and form.

The invention (in a preferred form) is illustrated in the drawings and hereinafter more fully described. Y

in the drawings:

Figure-1 is an elevational view partly in section illustrating the tunnel in the process of construction, by use of blocks embodying the principles of my invention.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation thereof.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary detail section taken on line 33 of Fig. l, with parts broken away and parts shown in elevation.

4: is a longitudinal detail view of one oi the tunnel blocks broken away at different depths to show the construction thereof.

5 is a top plan view of the block.

Fig. 6 is a section on line 6-6 of Fig. 2 with parts omitted.

Fig. 7 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the use of forms in assembling the blocks.

Fig. 8 is a detail view illustrating the connection of segments oi. the form one to another.

As shown in the drawings: The material of which the block is constructed, concrete or the like, is denoted by the reference numeral 1, and the shape of the block in iongitudinal elevation is that of a curved segment, the curvature of which depends upon the contour of the particular tunnel to be built. Molded into the outer edges of each of the blocks 1, are curved bars 2 and 3. respectively oi Z-section, and molded within each of said blocks 1, near the side and outer walls thereof, is a continuous strip of wire netting or other toraminous rein-tiers.

15 a purpose hereinafter pointed out.

escapes substantially of U-shape, the legs and outer portion of each of which are disposed with in the foraminous material 4, and the outer corner portions of which project through apertures provided in said foraminous material abutting the inner surfaces of the respective Z-bars 2 and 3.

A plurality of apertures 6, are provided transversely through the block 1, intermediate said respective reinforcing bars 5, for For the purpose of assembling said blocks to form the walls of a tunnel, which in the present instance is shown as circular, forms are provided which comprise I-beam sections 7, and

plates 8, are bolted on each side of the respective webs of said sections at the abutting ends thereof to retain the same assembled in the ring form shown in Fig. 1. The I beam forms for each layer of the blocks are held spaced from one another by spacer bars 9, one of which is shown in Fig. 7, detachably bolted to the respectivewebs out the adjacent I-beam forms.

For the purpose of retaining the blocks 1, upon the forms, the inner curved surface of the block is provided with a groove lined, if desired, by a channel bar 10. At one Or more points in the channel on the inner surface of the block the recess is enlarged to T-shape and the flanges of-the channel bar are struck outwardly, as denoted by the reference numeral 11, in Fig. 3, and engaged in said T-shaped recesses are short curved retaining brackets or plates 12, de-

tachably bolted to the web of the I-bar section 7, which act to retain the bloclnupon the I-bar form. As shown, the curvature of said angle iron brackets 12, is such that the same may be readily withdrawn from the T-shaped recesses in the block after said brackets are unbolted from the I-bar form if it is desired to take down and remove the form. v

. It is sometimes desired to leave the forms .50 and retaining members for the block en gaged with the blocks after the same have been completely set up to form the walls of the tunnel, and a lining or facing of concrete or cement 13, shown in Fig. 3, is then applied thereover, and in the View shown in Fig. 3, alternate rows of blocks are shown with the form and retaining means asso ciated therewith, while those rows of blocks therebetween have had the same removed therefrom, to illustrate that either method of erection may be used. To further increase the strength of the structure and particularly to aid the blocks in resisting internal bursting stresses, as for instance when as the tunnel or here is used for the condtic tion of iluid, circumferential bars or tie rods grooves formed by the abutting Z-bars 2 and 3, of the adjacent rows of blocks.

For the purpose of positively interlocking the adjacent rows of assembled blocks one to another the apertures 6, extending transversely therethrough are utilized, and telescoping rods 15, and sleeves 16, are used, each of a length substantially equal to that of the width of a block and arranged to break joints as clearly shown in Fig. 2, so that after a block is placed in position engaged over the projecting ends of the rods or sleeves, as the case may be, another rod or sleeve, as the case may be, is inserted into the apertures of the newly placed blocks projecting therebeyond. After the form or tunnel is completed it may be used for any purpose, and as shown in Fig. 1, a bed or foundation 17, is provided, on which tracks 18, are laid. 1

I am aware that various details of con struction may be varied through a wide range without departing from the principles of this invention, and I therefore do not purpose limiting the patent granted otherwise than necessitated by the prior art.

I. claim my invention:

1. A tunnel comprisin blocks laid one against another in paralle rows and in staggered relation, each of said blocks having metallic Z bars peripherally recessed into the outer edges thereof affording" circumfereu tial grooves between said respective rows of blocks, and retaining rings secured around said tunnel and laid within said exterior circumferential grooves 2. In a tunnel construction of the class described a plurality of blocks assembled with one another, each of said blocks having Z-shaped metallic bars molded thereinto on the exterior thereof, said bars afiording peripheral grooves in the tunnel structure when in assembled relation, and circumferential tie rods fitted in said grooves and extending around the tunnel construction to reinforce the same.

3. In a tunnel construction oi the class described a plurality of blocks laid one against the other, means extendin transversely through the blocks to interlock the same one with another, members embedded in the periphery of said blocksshaped to form grooves, and mechanism extending circumferentially around the exterior of said blocks, lying in said grooves to reinforce the same and retain the blocks in position.

4;. In a tunnel construction or" the class described the combination with reinforced concrete blocks built up in staggered relation, of curved bars molded in the outer edges of said blocks whereby adjacent bars of adjacent rows of blocks afibrd circumferential grooves in a tunnel construction, and reinforcing bands extending peripherally around said. circumferential grooves to reinforce the tunnel structure against internal bursting stresses.

5. A tunnel. construction of the cl ss @8- scribecl comprising a plurality of reinforce-(l concrete blocks, forms on which the same are mounted to form the Walls of the tunnel construction interlocking means hetwee respective layers of blocks e versely through said blocks L recessed into the outer surfaces of said. b affording a plurality of peripheral exterior grooves in the tunnel construction, and reinforcing members extending peripherally around the tunnel construction and laid. within said grooves.

6. A tunnel construction of the class oiescribed comprising a plurality of reinforced concrete blocks built up in assembled relation transverse interlocking means ext-encling between the respective rows of blocks curved bars embedded in said blocks to form. circumferential grooves, and circumferential bands in said grooves extending around said. blocks to retain the same in position. and sist bursting stresses Within the interior of the tunnel construction. 7. In a device of the class concrete block, foraminous reiinforcin A?! n 55 teriel in said block, reinforcing bars in blocks having their inner encls lea against the foremlnous material tn outer ends -o3eet" tneietnrougn, as cars '7 1 g 'w melee. zeripneren the blocks against 'eby tlescribecl a conberlderl periphbedded in the .eripheral mem- U J3 1 Iii). t

1. .3 1 r one mocks ror reinround sax e.

device of the class described a .ralitv of interwoven re- 11, reinforcing Z reinforcing 

